Both the feed cost and labor cost for dairy farming have witnessed substantial growth in recent years, reports Beijing Shennong Kexin Argibusiness Consulting Co.

Dean Foods Co. is selling its Morningstar Foods division to Saputo  inc. for $1.45 billion on a debt-free basis. The transaction is expected to close by the end of December 2012.

Hamdi Ulukaya started the Chobani company (formerly known as Agro Farma) in 2005. With a Small Business Administration 504 loan, he bought a shuttered dairy processing facility from Kraft Foods in upstate New York and began making authentic strained Greek yogurt. Today, annual sales are about $1 billion.

 TreeHouse Foods acquired the assets of the aseptic cheese and pudding business from Associated Milk Producers Inc. 

Gifford’s Ice Cream, Skowhegan, Maine, has added three employees to its sales team. Each of the three employees has a years-long background in the ice cream industry and familiarity with her targeted sales region.

A food truck, called the "Soup Boutique, Inspired by Hood Cream," is serving two cream-based soups. One soup recipe is prepared by Chef Jonathan Dunn of Lavishly Dunn Catering. The other is created by a local chef at each tour stop.

"It's clear Americans feel strongly that the federal government should stay out of the milk pricing business," said Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO. "Dairy is a dietary staple and a primary source of essential nutrition to tens of millions of Americans. Artificially raising milk prices by manipulating the market, as proposed in the Farm Bill's Dairy Security Act, hurts consumers and it hurts taxpayers," she said.

Sargento Foods Inc. this week announced several personnel changes. Among them:Bob Strickland was hired as national customer business manager for Costco and Laura Meyer as customer research manager. Vince Juneau was promoted to consumer research manager for Walmart and Sam’s club team.

Agropur is investing more than $100 million in its Luxemburg plant in Wisconsin in order to significantly increase the production capacity. 

Our annual report card grades the various categories of dairy foods and beverages. None fail, but clearly, product developers need to bone up on chemistry to develop exciting new products. Remedial work in marketing principles will help convey dairy’s nutritional benefits.